Where To Stay For... Winter Activities

Take mountain pursuits to new heights with our choice of accommodation, from traditional chalets to tree houses.

LES CABANES DE PYRÈNE, Cazarilh, Hautes-Pyrénées

If you are looking for something different on a Pyrenean holiday, try a tree house, perched in a forest near the village of Cazarilh, at the junction of the Barousse and Luchon valleys. You will have to relinquish some creature comforts (there are only dry toilets in the three tree houses, and the showers are in the main reception building), but the low lighting and cute stairs and footbridge will bring out your adventurer’s spirit.

A breakfast basket is left for you to hoist up by rope. Owners Charlotte Grollimund and Sylvain Savazzi also prepare barbecues in a hexagonal hut with a chimney in its centre (€35 for four courses, wine included). You can take a dip in the wooden, Nordic-style hot tub or embrace your inner child with giant wooden games scattered in the forest. 

Treehouses accommodate from two to seven people. Prices from €140 for two people including breakfast basket. Tel: (Fr) 6 20 07 62 45 lescabanesdepyrene.com

CHALET LE MOULIN, Mieussy, Haute-Savoie

If you are looking for an intimate winter holiday for the family, renting an entire property might be the best option. This traditional Alpine chalet, a mile above the village of Mieussy, has three double bedrooms, two new bathrooms and a modern granite kitchen, and enjoys breathtaking views over the Samoëns Valley from its south-facing terrace.

The atmosphere is luxurious but cosy, with wood-panelling, log fires and large rooms. It is the small details that make it more of a ‘home from home’ than a simple holiday rental: owners Nigel and Irene provide sledges for guests to borrow, as well as a raclette maker and a library.